Green building studies
Sustainable supermarket: M&S's new Cheshire Oaks store
At this enormous store in Chester, M&S is putting its Plan A sustainability programme to the test. And from the zero-waste policy to the innovative use of natural materials, all the evidence suggests that this is one plan A that is actually working … Building reports
The iCon centre: the beginning of something beautiful
These days, ’green building’ is often synonymous with ’ugly architecture’. One project trying to prove otherwise is the iCon Innovation Centre in Northamptonshire. With a carbon footprint of only 12.2kg/m2 and a bold architectural identity, is this a sign of a new era for eco?
Top of the class: Passivhaus school design
A primary school in Exeter won’t win any architectural awards, but is earning gold stars in zero-carbon and Passivhaus design. Thomas Lane swots up on how to deliver a low-energy building on a budget
Brettstapel envelope: The natural choice
Getting planning permission to build a house in the stunning Scottish Borders requires a sensitive design, which is why architect Gaia specified a wooden Brettstapel envelope for this project
Tesco's green specification process: Every little helps
Supermarkets don’t like to be beaten on price - or on their environmental credentials. To get ahead of the competition, Tesco is now testing every bit of green kit it can lay its hands on to build zero-carbon stores. Building reports on the savings
Rebuilding Iraq: Mott MacDonald's Marsh Arab school
How do you start to rebuild a country devasted by war? When Mott MacDonald was asked to make a school for the Marsh Arabs, it went back to using traditional woven reed – reconnecting the community to its roots.
Qatar's zero carbon stadium: 96 degrees in the shade
Qatar wants to host the 2022 World Cup. But first it has to convince FIFA that the game can even be played in a Qatari summer. So it got Arup Associates to create a micro-climate inside a 500-seat test stadium. Cool.
Empire State Building window refurb: The empire strikes back
Manhattan’s Empire State Building is leaking air and carbon by the tonne. But a project to reduce heat loss and solar gain from its 6,514 windows has raised its green credentials - and drastically lowered its energy bill
Mainstream green: Brighton belle
One Brighton is the brainchild of the team behind super-green development BedZed. But although sustainability is at the heart of the scheme, it’s going to do it its own sweet way
Taming the beast: Winchester’s green office refurb
This is the story of how a sixties brutalist eyesore was turned into a building more becoming to the genteel town of Winchester – and made into one of the UK’s greenest offices in the process
Meet the government's new best friends: Victorian refurb
Renovation will play a vital role in meeting the government’s target of an 80% emissions reduction by 2050. And it’s the owner occupier who’ll be doing the work. Two south London residents found out what it takes
The UK's first code level five homes
The new flats in Mid Street in the sleepy village of South Nutfield might not look like anything to scare the horses, but in fact they are quietly revolutionary. Alex Smith takes a trip to the country to see the UK’s first code-level-five sustainable homes
Ropemaker or Watermark Place: The big square off
Two big hitters have emerged on the streets of the City: Ropemaker in the red corner (above left), Watermark Place in the blue (above right). But which will take the sustainability title and be crowned ultimate speculative office champ?
Second time lucky: the Sigma II eco-house
When the Sigma eco-home at the BRE Innovation Park failed to hit the upper bands of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the blame was laid squarely on the building fabric. Now its maker is having another go
How cool is that? Hull Truck Theatre's passive-ventilated venue
Hull Truck Theatre’s new performance space uses a passive ventilation system that relies on a warm audience reaction – fortunately, that has never been in short supply
